Tank vehicle



Oi 6, 1936 R. A. BRADLEY Er AL 2,056,820

TANK VEHICLE Filed May 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. (i,` 1936. R. A. BRADLEY Er AL TANK VEHICLE Filed May '9, 1954 2' Sheet sf-Shet 271 Patented Oct. i936 UNITED STATES TANK Ralph A. Bradley, Emanuel E. Norquist, and Victor C. Norquist, Kansas City, Mo., assignors` to Butler Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri 'Application May 9, 1934, Serial No. 724,752

4 claim. (ci. 22o- 1i Our invention relates to tank vehicles and more particularly to a trailer vehicle adapted to transport liquids.

Currently, it has become increasingly PODlilar .s practice to transport liquids such as gasoline, fuel oils, lubricating oils. milk, and the like, by motor transport. .The laws of many States prohibit the passage of vehicles in excess of a certain designated weight or of a certain designated width l over the roads of that State. In order to increase the useful'load of the liquid being transported,

it is desirable to make the tank vehicle of the lightestppossible construction without sacriiicing A strength. In order to permit the load to bel safely l hauled. it is desirable that the vehicle have a low center of gravity.

One object of our invention is to provide a trail-- er tank vehicle of light but strong construction.

Another object of our invention is to provide a zo trailer tank vehicle having a low center of gravity.

Another object of our invention is to provide a trailer tank vehicle having a large capacity for its weight. A

Other and further objects of our invention will 9,5 appear from the following description.

In general, our invention contemplates the provision of a trailer vehicle having anoifset forward end in order to provide a vehicle of a low center of gravity. In order to save weight, the chassis,

which is customary in vehicles and upon which the tank is usually placed'. is eliminated. In order to compensate for the elimination of the chassis, the tank itself is' so formed and bracedas.

to constitute it a beam adapted to withstand any stresses occasioned.

In the accompanying drawings. which form part of the instant speciiication and are tobe read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trailer tank embodying one mode of carrying out our invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the trailer tank chassis in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional viewltaken on a line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure4isa sectional viewtakenonaline 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a 50 trailer tankf modified form.

Figure 6 is asectional view taken on aline 3-3 of Figure 5.

More -particularly referring now to the drawings. the towing vehicle I is provided with a iifth f5; wheel@ uponcl'vhich the forward oiisetend of the trailer vehicle is mounted. The tank 3 is made of any suitable sheet metal and' is preferabLv of oval shape such as can be seen by reference to Figure 6. The tank 3 is divided into suitl able compartments by means of partitions 4 as 5 can readily be seen by reference to Figure 2. In order to provide increased stinness of the tank shell 3 and to increase the ordinate from the neutral axis, we provide a longitudinally extending dome l along the top of the tank. The dome 10 4 is formed integral with and a .continuation or the shell 3 as can readily be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4. Welded to the exterior portion of the shell 3 we provide longitudinally' extending beams 5 and 6. At suitable intervals we weld 15 cross members 'I to the exterior shell 3 of the tank, as can readily be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3. To take the bending moment and to reinforce the shell itself, wje provide internal bracing means comprising a pair of bracing struc- 20 tures disposed on each side of the longitudinal axis. Referring to Figure 2, vertical plates 3 are lwelded to the interior of the tank surface and to partitions 4'. The plate 3 ris welded to the end wall 3 of the tank shell 3. Bracing members II 25 are then welded to the plates 3 in the manner shown in Figure 2 forming a truss-like structure. Suitable manholes I I are provided for the respecti've compartments provided with manhole covers I2. Pipes il, I3. and I3, equipped with suitableao valves are provided for draining liquids from the respective compartments. t

In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, plates il extend from partition to Partition instead of using the bracing members I3 in the form 'shown in Figure 2. This construction is heavier than the 'preferred 'form'. but may be used in small vehicles where the question of maximum capacity is not so critical. The Vplates .I1 may be fitted with lightening holes I3. The 40 .structure formed in the manner described. it will readily be appreciated, is a unitary beam which is at once a tank and a chassis. It rray be directly mounted upon the fifth wheel 3 and ground wheels I3 through the agency of-suitable mount- 45 ing means such as springs 23.

It will be observed that we` have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a tank trailer vehicle oi^\ rigid construction and of sumcient strength to carry liquids without the w aid of a chassis. construction has a low center of gravity and a large Icapacity per unit of weight.

It will be readily observed that, by running the ydomethe11111lellgtllnfthetank tthe proper 'Y 1n.: 'f'i! .'i.. .i' .si

size dome is automatically provided when partitions are placed within the tank at any desired points. The greater the space between the partitions, the greater the dome embraced therebetween, so that proper expansion space is provided.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are o1' utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the s cope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claimswithout departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention. what we claim is:

1. In a vehicle tank having a tank, internal and external bracing means therefor, a tank formed with an integral dome at the upper portion thereof, said dome extending longitudinally and substantially throughout the length of said.

tank to act as 4a stiii'ening member. and iorming an expansion chamber for liquid within said tank.

2. A tank vehicle as in claim 1 in which said tank -is formed with a reduced end portion.

3. A tank divided into compartments and adapted to be mounted on a tank vehicle, said tank having a longitudinal dome extending substantially the entire length Ithereof and formed integrally therewith to act as a stiilening member, said dome furnishing an expansion space for the compartments of the tank.

' 4.. In a tank for a tank vehicle, a shell formed with an integral dome extending longitudinally oi.' said shell for substantially the entire length thereof, said dome forming a vapor space for liquidwithin said tank vand acting, as a stiii'ening means for said shell.

RALPH A. BRADLEY. EMANUEL E. NORQUIST. VICTOR C. NORQUIST. 

